Something finally dawned on me today, I can no longer watch movies on my own. I used to watch movies all the time but I rarely watch them anymore unless I have a completely free weekend and feel like catching up with some recent releases. It may be stemming from the old rule that says people who go to the cinema on their own are losers, but I think it's something else (I tried to tell myself that was a stupid rule but every time I go to the movies alone I kinda feel like a loner). This isn't just the cinema though, this is happening at home too. It took a bit of thinking and I worked out what it is.
As you get older, work and social obligations begin to rule your like, until the point where you just don't have that much time to yourself anymore and you feel like every spare second you have is precious. You have to fill that time with things that need to be done (housework, cooking, bathing) and what you have left (if you're me) should be spent on something productive otherwise you feel your time is wasted. Videogames can fill this space because they have an end goal and a vague sense of achievement tied with them.
Movies are a different story, there's a greater hit to miss ratio with movies lately and I've started feeling like I'm wasting time on such a gambit. I love movies, I just feel like I'm becoming too critical of them when I'm left sitting on the couch, alone, to ponder what I've just watched.
The movie going experience changes with a friend, all of a sudden there's potential for crowd interaction, you're not the only one wasting your time if it's a bad movie, and most importantly, there's the chance to discuss the film after you're done. On many occasions I've found that I enjoy the movie more when I have someone to talk about it with, someone to laugh or cringe with, or someone to help me lash out at it's absurdity. Of course this isn't always the case, and some movies are best seen alone, but it's still nice to be able to discuss it with someone at some point. It can help you notice things you may have missed, or give you an understanding of how it affects different people.
I'm not saying I will talk my way through every film but whereas I used to think it was pointless to see a movie with friends because you can't talk during it anyway, I've now turned completely around and prefer the social movie going experience. Seeing something with friends can help you choose a movie you may not have watched otherwise. It can make a great film better purely by sharing enjoyment with others, and it can make an unbearable movie a little more bearable by sharing in pure hatred with a friend. It's this shared emotion that changes the act of simply watching a movie, into something bonding, something more enjoyable, and the best movies can even feel like a life changing event. The same goes for videogames, I find the co-op experience much more rewarding because you're sharing the experience with another human being.
Now that I've worked it out I don't feel so bad about cutting back my film intake. I understand that it's not my love of film waning, it's my desire to share the experience with others growing. It may sound silly to some because they only see movies with friends anyway, but I'm talking about a movie a day (sometimes more) which is easier to do on your own than finding someone to join you every time. I may be watching less movies now, but having finally worked out why, I think I can start enjoying them more.
Or just get into arguments when my opinion differs from someone else's.
As you get older, work and social obligations begin to rule your like, until the point where you just don't have that much time to yourself anymore and you feel like every spare second you have is precious. You have to fill that time with things that need to be done (housework, cooking, bathing) and what you have left (if you're me) should be spent on something productive otherwise you feel your time is wasted. Videogames can fill this space because they have an end goal and a vague sense of achievement tied with them.
Movies are a different story, there's a greater hit to miss ratio with movies lately and I've started feeling like I'm wasting time on such a gambit. I love movies, I just feel like I'm becoming too critical of them when I'm left sitting on the couch, alone, to ponder what I've just watched.
The movie going experience changes with a friend, all of a sudden there's potential for crowd interaction, you're not the only one wasting your time if it's a bad movie, and most importantly, there's the chance to discuss the film after you're done. On many occasions I've found that I enjoy the movie more when I have someone to talk about it with, someone to laugh or cringe with, or someone to help me lash out at it's absurdity. Of course this isn't always the case, and some movies are best seen alone, but it's still nice to be able to discuss it with someone at some point. It can help you notice things you may have missed, or give you an understanding of how it affects different people.
I'm not saying I will talk my way through every film but whereas I used to think it was pointless to see a movie with friends because you can't talk during it anyway, I've now turned completely around and prefer the social movie going experience. Seeing something with friends can help you choose a movie you may not have watched otherwise. It can make a great film better purely by sharing enjoyment with others, and it can make an unbearable movie a little more bearable by sharing in pure hatred with a friend. It's this shared emotion that changes the act of simply watching a movie, into something bonding, something more enjoyable, and the best movies can even feel like a life changing event. The same goes for videogames, I find the co-op experience much more rewarding because you're sharing the experience with another human being.
Now that I've worked it out I don't feel so bad about cutting back my film intake. I understand that it's not my love of film waning, it's my desire to share the experience with others growing. It may sound silly to some because they only see movies with friends anyway, but I'm talking about a movie a day (sometimes more) which is easier to do on your own than finding someone to join you every time. I may be watching less movies now, but having finally worked out why, I think I can start enjoying them more.
Or just get into arguments when my opinion differs from someone else's.
0 comments:
Post a Comment